Overcast v. Akra

The defendant lessors appeal from a jury verdict and judgment of the Blaine County District Court in which they were found to owe the lessee $20,000 as payment for removable and nonremovable improvements the lessee had placed on the farm during the period of his lease. The jury wrote on its own verdict form that “[w]e also award Mr. Overcast the right to remove his two grain bins, Powder River Gate, and four stock tanks.”

The lessors raise several issues as grounds for reversal, but we recite only what we consider to be the dispositive issues. We reverse and grant a new trial for several…